# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1128 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1129 --- ## [Hyperloop style trains. How do you make one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-style-trains-how-do-you-make-one/718194)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-style-trains-how-do-you-make-one/718194 "2015-04-22T20:05:29Z")
Generally speaking, how do you make an evacuated train tunnel? What do you use to suck the air out and keep it out? Does it have to run constantly? Thanks, Rob --- ## [Changing money](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-money/717233)
**Author:** [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-money/717233 "2015-04-22T19:41:13Z")
Hypothetical: I am an American tourist. I travel around Europe for a couple of weeks. Returning home, I find I have not spent all my Euro currency, decide not to change it back to US dollars at the bank as the rates + c… --- ## [Soap and the death of a bubble bath](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-and-the-death-of-a-bubble-bath/249575)
**Author:** [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-and-the-death-of-a-bubble-bath/249575 "2015-04-22T18:58:11Z")
Why do the bubbles all disappear in my bubble bath after I lather up with a bar of soap? Bubble bath = liquid soap, so why would the addition of more soap ruin my bubbles? --- ## [Can a state decide its employees aren't covered by the ADA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-state-decide-its-employees-arent-covered-by-the-ada/718279)
**Author:** [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-state-decide-its-employees-arent-covered-by-the-ada/718279 "2015-04-22T18:56:45Z")
We just got an email today from the Exec Director telling the employees of this state office that we can no longer use the handicapped parking spaces, even if we have a handicapped placard. Is there some sort of “employe… --- ## [Did I imagine this strange image search engine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-imagine-this-strange-image-search-engine/718260)
**Author:** [@Willcross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Willcross)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-imagine-this-strange-image-search-engine/718260 "2015-04-22T18:01:44Z")
Maybe I’m dreaming this. I seem to remember an image search engine that worked like no other I had ever seen. You typed in normal tags and it would return a bank of images. You then clicked the one that looks most like i… --- ## [Why do we need to preserve nature?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-need-to-preserve-nature/718095)
**Author:** [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-need-to-preserve-nature/718095 "2015-04-22T17:54:31Z")
I love nature. I love the wilderness. I love wild animals and plants and trees and running clean water. I’m only asking this question as a purely hypothetical. Why do we need to preserve nature? Couldn’t we grow all the … --- ## [Factual Question About Number of Deaths While in the Custody of Police or While Being Arrested](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-question-about-number-of-deaths-while-in-the-custody-of-police-or-while-being-arrested/718172)
**Author:** [@JoshuaSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoshuaSD)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-question-about-number-of-deaths-while-in-the-custody-of-police-or-while-being-arrested/718172 "2015-04-22T15:40:53Z")
First, I put this question in the GQ Forum because I do not want to discuss the social or political issues around the deaths being recently reported on. The questions I have are things that should have solid data availab… --- ## [Determining nitrogen in compost](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-nitrogen-in-compost/718200)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/determining-nitrogen-in-compost/718200 "2015-04-22T12:50:16Z")
I tried to google this and all I found was commercial testing. Is there any way for a backyard hobbyist to determine say withing 75% accuracy the nitrogen content of compost? --- ## [What are the mechanics behind this landslide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mechanics-behind-this-landslide/718276)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mechanics-behind-this-landslide/718276 "2015-04-22T12:15:09Z")
I’ve just seen this video of a slow landslide in Russia and I’m wondering how it’s caused? Is it the snow and ice melting and moving the earth around it? --- ## [Inserting Images in MS Word: A Glitch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inserting-images-in-ms-word-a-glitch/718183)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inserting-images-in-ms-word-a-glitch/718183 "2015-04-22T11:37:38Z")
I take pdf files and convert to png files for ease of insertion into a MS Word document. It seems MS Word is placing a partial “frame” around my inserted images or other stray marks of this nature. Any clue how to remo… --- ## [Increase in computer program freezes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-in-computer-program-freezes/718267)
**Author:** [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/increase-in-computer-program-freezes/718267 "2015-04-22T09:53:12Z")
I have a distinct impression that the frequency of programs freezing up has increased recently, both on my work computer and my home computer. They’re running different versions of Windows and it’s several different prog… --- ## [Picasa pictuer storage being cranky.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picasa-pictuer-storage-being-cranky/718259)
**Author:** [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picasa-pictuer-storage-being-cranky/718259 "2015-04-22T04:47:58Z")
A not very Geeky friend puts up pictures on Picasa just like I do. Suddenly, clicking on the normal link, he goes to his album page and he can’t see individual pictures. Not sure if he can see each album but can’t go t… --- ## [Calculating Sunset](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-sunset/718249)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-sunset/718249 "2015-04-22T04:18:25Z")
There must be a simple answer for this, but how do they calculate sunset for any given zip code? As an example, for my zip code sunset was 8:05 this evening, however I live in the Rocky Mountains so ‘perceived sunset’ w… --- ## [How Do You Get a 'Reverse Polarity' Magnet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-reverse-polarity-magnet/718158)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-a-reverse-polarity-magnet/718158 "2015-04-22T04:17:28Z")
It was some time back. And I was reading this old Discover magazine we got from my uncle (or perhaps grandfather). And there was this interesting article on cryogenics. It seems when you freeze an animal or person using… --- ## [How does my contact lens cleaning solution work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-my-contact-lens-cleaning-solution-work/718252)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-my-contact-lens-cleaning-solution-work/718252 "2015-04-22T03:30:03Z")
I use ClearCare for my contact lenses. According to the label, it is a 10% hydrogen peroxide solution. I place the lenses in two labeled baskets on a plastic piece that slips into a plastic vial filled with the hydroge… --- ## [Anyone ever get stiffed by an ATM machine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-get-stiffed-by-an-atm-machine/656717)
**Author:** [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-get-stiffed-by-an-atm-machine/656717 "2015-04-22T03:07:30Z")
Previously my only experience with this was years ago when using an ATM of my home bank, it shortchanged me $20 on a withdrawal. An ATM balance inquiry showed that the problem just corrected itself electronically the nex… --- ## [Older version of Chrome](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-version-of-chrome/718235)
**Author:** [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/older-version-of-chrome/718235 "2015-04-22T02:25:17Z")
So, I evidently ended up with the newest version of Chrome, as proven by the fact that the one web site I need, and which uses Java, is no longer functional. Is there a) a method to make Chrome 42 work with Java or b) d… --- ## [USA Centric: Radio Station Prefix](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-centric-radio-station-prefix/718071)
**Author:** [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-centric-radio-station-prefix/718071 "2015-04-22T00:21:53Z")
My search-fu is failing, possibly from an exhausting day at work so here goes: Back before most of us were born radio stations here in the USA were finally designated with prefixes W for east of the Mississippi River an… --- ## [What Is The Absolute Mimimum Amount of Time Hernandez Will Be In Jail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-absolute-mimimum-amount-of-time-hernandez-will-be-in-jail/718222)
**Author:** [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-absolute-mimimum-amount-of-time-hernandez-will-be-in-jail/718222 "2015-04-21T23:36:02Z")
As many of you know, former NFL player Aaron Hernandez was convicted of first degree murder in Massachusetts last week and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Such a sentence triggers an automatic appeal to … --- ## [What & when was the first documented vote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-was-the-first-documented-vote/718023)
**Author:** [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-was-the-first-documented-vote/718023 "2015-04-21T22:46:11Z")
What & when was the first documented vote? For anything, by anyone, anywhere. --- ## [What's So Secret About the Secret Service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-secret-about-the-secret-service/718185)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-secret-about-the-secret-service/718185 "2015-04-21T21:49:13Z")
While I’m sure there’s some element of secrecy involved in any law enforcement agency, ISTM that it’s less secret than a lot of other agencies, and I’m wondering why this particular branch of government - charged mainly … --- ## [Correcting vision problems with computer graphics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-vision-problems-with-computer-graphics/718161)
**Author:** [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-vision-problems-with-computer-graphics/718161 "2015-04-21T20:53:11Z")
I am quite near-sighted, so this question came to me while I was doing an emergency repair on my eyeglasses and waiting for the fumes from the super-glue to subside. Without the correction of my glasses, everything is a… --- ## [Webroot](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webroot/718176)
**Author:** [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webroot/718176 "2015-04-21T20:48:05Z")
What’s the straight dope on the antivirus Webroot? --- ## [Weight Loss: What is happening when one hits a plateau?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-what-is-happening-when-one-hits-a-plateau/718002)
**Author:** [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-what-is-happening-when-one-hits-a-plateau/718002 "2015-04-19T04:30:06Z")
While this thread does spring from my own frustration, I am looking for a factual answer about physiology. If I understand correctly from reading the Dope, the body needs ten calories per pound to stay alive, before any… --- ## [Has the comma after e.g. or i.e. become optional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-comma-after-e-g-or-i-e-become-optional/717808)
**Author:** [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-comma-after-e-g-or-i-e-become-optional/717808 "2015-04-21T19:27:45Z")
I am a prescriptivist and as such believe that there is a set way to format and punctuate these abbreviations (i.e., like this). I have noticed lately that the comma (and sometimes even the periods) seems to be left out… --- ## [How to "humanely euthanize" 5.3 million chickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-humanely-euthanize-5-3-million-chickens/718166)
**Author:** [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-humanely-euthanize-5-3-million-chickens/718166 "2015-04-21T17:48:32Z")
For those that don’t want top follow my convoluted math, go right to the bottom of the post! As per this and the stories as some mysterious agency will kill all these chickens due to an avian flue epidemic: I would g… --- ## [Why do skyscrapers fall straight down and not fall over?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-skyscrapers-fall-straight-down-and-not-fall-over/718097)
**Author:** [@Contemplation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contemplation)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-skyscrapers-fall-straight-down-and-not-fall-over/718097 "2015-04-21T16:29:22Z")
Unlike a tree, a sky scraper just crumbles drectly on top of this. Even the world trade center fell straight down. Why does it not lean into other buildings and fall sideways like a tree? --- ## [Building Codes and Enforcement.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-codes-and-enforcement/718043)
**Author:** [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-codes-and-enforcement/718043 "2015-04-21T16:04:41Z")
This is a thread dealing with a slight legal matter, but don’t worry, I’m not asking for legal advice. I am toying with the idea of hiring a local attorney to help me in this matter, or even take it to my local councilp… --- ## [Did the "French Resistance" in WWII make a real difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-french-resistance-in-wwii-make-a-real-difference/21842)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-french-resistance-in-wwii-make-a-real-difference/21842 "2015-04-21T14:09:04Z")
Taking off from another recent SD thread on French History I’m curious if Dopers have the SD on the “French Resistance”. Until the last few years I’ll admit I had the “Hogan’s Heroes” / Hollywood reinforced view that the… --- ## [Adobe Creative Cloud apps on the new 12" Macbook - anyone tried this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adobe-creative-cloud-apps-on-the-new-12-macbook-anyone-tried-this/718029)
**Author:** [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adobe-creative-cloud-apps-on-the-new-12-macbook-anyone-tried-this/718029 "2015-04-21T06:20:37Z")
The new Macbook specs are: Adobe Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop and In Design require: It looks to me like they ought to at least run, although I don’t know how the Intel Core M CPU compares to the usual i5/i7 ra… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1127) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1129)